The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-11-19

No one without pass Is allowed within block
OF the hnidng, and strong bodies Of police
armed with Winchester miles guard every ap-
proach. There Is the usual crowd OF idlers
around in the streets as near the building rs
they IRE allowed to approach. but the police
keep them moving and perfect order prevails
A little ripple OF excitement occurred ut 0:30
when Mrs Parsons and Mrs. Holmes went up
to the police lines and demanded admission
They were refused and requested to move on.
They declined to do this, and becoming rather
violent in their tall, were arrested without fur
ther ceremony and taken to the police station.
There was no expression or demonstration Of
sympathy on the part Of tho crowd.
Dr.. Mayer, the assistant county physician,
passed through and rapidly walked to the cells
Of the condemned. He asked each II there was
any desire for stimulants, and all save Engel
alone replied quietly in the negative. Engel
asked for some port wine. 1t was given him Mt
once, and he gulped down three large glasses.
Spies requested water, and, seemingly consum-
ed by burning thirst swallowed nearly two
tumblers Of the pure cold liquid
In the Jail Office, Deputy Burke was now pass
ing around among the throng and taking up the
tickets Of admission, apparently indicating that
the execution was not far distant. This unusu-
oil proceeding was objected to by some, but all
were compelled to submit.
While standing in front Of Engel's cell, DR..
Bolton was in dunger Of becoming involved in o
religious controversy, for the condemned man
boldly combatted the propositions of the divine.
Within u few minutes Of nine message came
from Mrs. Parsons through bailifr applying at
the jail for admission. Tho request was sternly
refused.
At 1855 fully $50 newspaper men. local poll
ticians and Others among them the twelve
jurors, who were to view the bodies after tho
execution, had passed through the dark under
the gnllows and began seating themselves. The
bailif said few words to the journalists, Reg
ging them TO make no rush when the drop fell,
but wait decently and in order.
Parsons was given q cup OF coffee few min
utes before the march to the scnffold was
begun.
The rattling OF chairs, tables and benches con-
tinued for several minutes, but by II :05 there
began to fall a hush and conversation among
the crowd sunk almost to q whisper The bare
whitewashed walls made q painful contrast
with the dark brown gallows with its four
noosed ropes dropping ominously near the
floor.
A CLEAN of sunlight shooting through the
window at this instant fell on corner OF the
death machine, and in slight degree relieved
its somber hue.
Through the window ono saw number OF po-
lcemen armed with rifles looking down from
the roof OF the Dearborn street wing on the
proceedings.
The Chief BailiY began at II 10 calling out
the names OF the persons summoned rs jurors
anu bringing tnem FORWARD 10 the row OF Nttle
stools directly in front OF the gallowS No other
sounds were heard in the long, high corridor but
the solemn, monotonous voice of the bailiff and
the rustling OF the jurors as they tptoed forward
through the crowd.
The eyes of the crowd began to center on the
dark box upon the scaffold of the dangling
ropes. This box seemed to possess fearful fas-
cination, and was absorbing the attention OF
every person In the corridor when frightful
wall startled the crowd. Some who had heard
the horrible groaning Of Lingg yesterday, just
before his death declared 1t sounded IL he was
still in agony. But this was mere fancy. The
black jail cat was the cause OF the commotion,
and at intervals continued to emit her ghost
like mewing.
The death warrant was read first to Spies,
then Fischer, then Engel and last to Parsons.
At II :46 the sheriff finished reading the death
warrants. Spies, Engel and Fischer then stood
in their shrouds at the grated door and said
adieus to friends in the visitors cage. At 11:49
the death march to the scaffold started. A COM
mand to the crowd fronting the gallows that all
must stop smoking was given ut II :35.
1t was now 11:45, and the suspense OF the
crowd near the gallows was like slow torture.
There was no relief and the newspaper men
gazed Mt the gallows and noted the four ropes
swaying slightly to and fro.
1t lacked just seven minutes and half of
the hour Of high noon when single white
shrouded figure, above which was . face
of yellowish pallor-the face OF August Spies
passed the first post OF the gallows. The
gaping crowd, ten feet below, half rose invol-
unfairly from their chairs ut the first glimpse
of the apparition advancing across the
scafiold. Spies looked calm and glanced down
at the reporters with trace of his old-time
cynical smile. He walked firmly over the drop,
guided by the grasp OF deputy, to the further
edge Of the gallows. Following close came
Fischer-close enough to touch Spies shroud
had his hand not been pinioned under the white
glisten totally unlike the nshiness of Engels
heavy features and In strange contrast with the
dead lack of color in the pinched linenments OF
Parsons. The once jaunty, vivacious Texan
came last o withered old man.